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The Roma Cup is a Group 3 sprint race held at Ascot Racecourse in Perth during the autumn racing season that is now used as a potential lead-up to the $5 million The Quokka.
The Roma Cup is a Group 3 race that is held annually at Ascot Racecourse in Perth. Contested under weight for age conditions over 1100m (reduced from 1200m in 2023), the Roma Cup is a key sprint held during the autumn racing season in WA.
2026 Roma Cup Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Roma Cup results and finishing order at Ascot on Saturday April 4, 2026 and to see if any The Quokka contenders emerge.
- 1st: No. 2 Rope Them In ($6)
- 2nd: No. 6 Smooth Chino
- 3rd: No. 1 Oscar’s Fortune
Winning Margin: 0.27 lengths
Winning Time: 1:03.40
Steve Wolfe’s confirmed The Quokka contender Rope Them In ($6) put the writing on the wall fresh when running down the previously undefeated favourite Smooth Chino to secure a narrow but convincing victory in the 2026 Roma Cup results.
2026 Roma Cup Odds
| 2. Rope Them In (4) J: Shaun Mcgruddy58.5kg 1249xT: Steve Wolfe | ||
| 6. Smooth Chino (3) J: Lucy Fiore58.5kg x111xT: Indianna Weinert | ||
| 1. Oscar’s Fortune (9) J: Patrick Carbery58.5kg 264×1T: Dion Luciani | ||
| 9. Luana Miss (7) J: Chris Parnham54.5kg 2117xT: Trevor Andrews | ||
| 5. Repossession (8) J: Brad Parnham58.5kg 394×2T: Chris & Michael Gangemi | ||
| 8. Toropa (2) J: Steven Parnham56.5kg x651xT: Stephen Miller | ||
| 7. Cut The Talk (1) J: Laqdar Ramoly58.5kg 45234T: Tim Crosby | ||
| 4. West Star (6) J: Clint Johnston-Porter58.5kg 3x09xT: Simon A Miller | ||
| 3. Acromantula (5) J: Natasha Faithfull58.5kg 941×4T: Daniel & Ben Pearce |
It was previously run in May before being moved forward to take place on the first Saturday of April in 2023 on the same day Sydney hosts the $4 million Doncaster Mile.
In 2025 it moved one week later and runs in mid-April on the same date as Randwick’s The Championships Day 2 headlined by the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
In 2026, Roma Cup Day moved back a week earlier to fall on the first Saturday in April.
The headline attraction of Roma Cup Day, the Roma Cup offers an increased $200,000 in total prize money as of 2021 and is open to horses aged two-years-old and over. Runners that contested earlier black-type sprints over the autumn season as well as those that may have performed in the summer’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) the previous November line-up in the Roma Cup field.
In 2021 the Roma Cup runner-up Elite Street went on to finish third in that year’s Winterbottom Stakes trifecta before returning in 2022 to take out the Roma Cup 12 months later.
More recently, Oscar’s Fortune won the 2024 Roma Cup after a second in the previous year’s Winterbottom results while in 2026 the Roma Cup winner Rope Them In had finished fourth in the Winterbottom First Four the summer prior.
Horses out of the Roma Cup often back-up in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) run over 200m further under the same weight-for-age conditions and the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m).
The Roma Cup also now serves as a lead-up for horses heading towards the state’s richest race, the buy-in $5 million The Quokka (1200m) held back at the track in mid-April.
In 2023 the Roma Cup was won by returning filly Amelia’s Jewel who was last seen winning the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at the track the spring prior.
Amelia’s Jewel went on to frank the 2023 Roma Cup form with a next-up second in The Quokka race. She then travelled to Melbourne for back-to-back Group 2 wins that spring.
Amelia’s Jewel returned as the odds-on favourite for her title defence in the 2024 Roma Cup but finished second to Oscar’s Fortune.
The 2024 Roma Cup form was subsequently franked with Oscar’s Fortune going on to run third in that year’s The Quokka, while Amelia’s Jewel ran second in both races.
The 2025 Roma Cup also produced that year’s The Quokka winner with the runner-up, Jokers Grin who was originally first past the post before losing on protest, going on to atone with a 20/1 upset in the $5 million feature. Generosity meanwhile further franked the form finishing third in both races.
The 2026 Roma Cup ran on Saturday April 4, 2026 at Ascot in WA as a potential The Quokka lead-up and was won in a narrow first-up victory by the Steve Wolfe-trained Rope Them In ($6).
| Roma Cup 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday April 4, 2026 |
| Track: | Ascot Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1100m |
| Race Type: | 2YO+ WFA |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2026 Roma Cup Betting
The season’s latest Roma Cup 2026 betting odds and links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au will be available here at Races.com.au the week of the race.
There was a notable upset in 2021 with Money Matters taking out the Roma Cup at odds of $26.
Elite Street ($2.25 in 2022) and Amelia’s Jewel ($2.15 in 2023) are the last favourites in Roma Cup betting to salute for the punters.
2026 Roma Cup Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 ROMA CUP FORM GUIDE
2026 Roma Cup Tips
Stay tuned for our expert Roma Cup 2026 tips on one of Perth’s key sprint races.
To Win: No. 6 Smooth Chino
SMOOTH CHINO (3) resumes as the favourite in Roma Cup betting and I’m finding it hard to tip against the Indianna Weinert-trained top elect who is undefeated to date and out to keep her flawless record intact. The ultra-consistent Maschino four-year-old is a classy chestnut who has won all six of his starts to date, most recently saluting as the odds-on fancy in mid-December in the Listed Black Heart Bart Stakes (1200m) here at Ascot. He is three-from-three at the track, has twice won first-up so presents a danger fresh and looks to have come back in great order if his strong recent Albany trial win is anything to go by. The big tick is the booking of Lucy Fiore – the hoop who won Wednesday’s rescheduled WA Oaks aboard Wonderfully Made. This gelding is yet to put a hoof step wrong, his jockey is in fine form, barrier three gives him every chance and there’s little to suggest he’ll be beaten.
|
6. Smooth Chino (3)
J: Lucy Fiore58.5kg
x111xT: Indianna Weinert
|
2026 Roma Cup Field
The Roma Cup field has a capacity of 16 starters when run at Ascot Racecourse and attracts the season’s in-form local sprinters, with few interstate raiders making the trip west for the event. Horses may have had an earlier run in a race like the Listed Northam Stakes (1100m) or be first-up after a Perth Summer Racing Carnival campaign.
The official Roma Cup 2026 field & barriers are released the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2026 Roma Cup final field features a smart line-up of sprinters including Oscar’s Fortune coming off a win fresh in the Rock Magic Stakes at the track and undefeated four-year-old Smooth Chino chasing a seventh win from as many career starts.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 569x2264x1 | OSCAR’S FORTUNE | Dion Luciani | Patrick Carbery | 9 | 58.5kg |  | 106 |
| 2 | x170x1249x | ROPE THEM IN | Steve Wolfe | Shaun McGruddy | 4 | 58.5kg | Â | 108 |
| 3 | 0947x941x4 | ACROMANTULA | Daniel & Ben Pearce | Ms Tash Faithfull | 5 | 58.5kg | Â | 101 |
| 4 | 1x1713x09x | WEST STAR | Simon A Miller | Clint Johnston-Porter | 6 | 58.5kg | Â | 103 |
| 5 | 111x3394x2 | REPOSSESSION | Chris & Michael Gangemi | Brad Parnham | 8 | 58.5kg | Â | 97 |
| 6 | 111x111x | SMOOTH CHINO | Indianna Weinert | Ms Lucy Fiore | 3 | 58.5kg | Â | 96 |
| 7 | x4354x5234 | CUT THE TALK | Tim Crosby | Laqdar Ramoly | 1 | 58.5kg | Â | 88 |
| 8 | x1622x651x | TOROPA | Stephen Miller | Steven Parnham | 2 | 56.5kg | Â | 91 |
| 9 | 1x10x2117x | LUANA MISS | Trevor Andrews | Chris Parnham | 7 | 54.5kg | Â | 84 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 Roma Cup Nominations
The Roma Cup 2026 nominations are announced the Tuesday leading up to the race.
Roma Cup History
The Roma Cup was first run in 1966, with Summer Storm claiming the inaugural victory. Initially run as a principal race over 1400m (1600m in 1974), the Roma Cup received Group 3 status in 1980. At this time, the race length was adjusted to 1200m where it remained until 2023 when reduced to 1100m.
Due to its favour with local horses, some names can be found over several years amongst the Roma Cup results. Grand Nirvana won in 2009, placed third in 2010, won in 2011, placed third in 2012, and while he didn’t run in 2013, he will be making a bid for a third victory in 2014. Luckygray, well known WA horse, won in 2012. Power Princess returned from a second place in 2011 and a scratching in 2012 to seize victory in 2013.
For the 2017 edition, the Roma Cup moves from Belmont Racecourse to Ascot Racecourse.
In 2023 the Roma Cup distance was reduced from 1200m to 1100m and was won by star mare Amelia’s Jewel.
Roma Cup results since 2000 are detailed below.
Roma Cup Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Roma Cup | 1st | Rope Them In | 1 minute 03.40 seconds |
| 2nd | Smooth Chino | ||
| 3rd | Oscar’s Fortune | ||
| 2025 Roma Cup | 1st | The Boss Lady (on protest) | 1 minute 03.77 seconds |
| 2nd | Jokers Grin | ||
| 3rd | Generosity | ||
| 2024 Roma Cup | 1st | Oscar’s Fortune | 1 minute 02.80 seconds |
| 2nd | Amelia’s Jewel | ||
| 3rd | Ripcord | ||
| 2023 Roma Cup | 1st | Amelia’s Jewel | 1 minute 03.23 seconds (1100m) |
| 2nd | Red Can Man | ||
| 3rd | Acromantula | ||
| 2022 Roma Cup | 1st | Elite Street | 1 minute 10.77 seconds |
| 2nd | Red Can Man | ||
| 3rd | Amasenus | ||
| 2021 Roma Cup | 1st | Money Matters | 1 minute 10.97 seconds |
| 2nd | Elite Street | ||
| 3rd | Dance Music | ||
| 2020 Roma Cup | 1st | Vega Magic | 1 minute 11.05 seconds |
| 2nd | The Velvet King | ||
| 3rd | Durendal | ||
| 2019 Roma Cup | 1st | Vital Silver | 1 minute 10.64 seconds |
| 2nd | Galaxy Star | ||
| 3rd | Great Shot | ||
| 2018 Roma Cup | 1st | Rock Magic | 1 minute 10.17 seconds |
| 2nd | Battle Hero | ||
| 3rd | Durendal | ||
| 2017 Roma Cup | 1st | Rock Magic | 1 minute 12.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Military Reign | ||
| 3rd | Durendal | ||
| 2016 Roma Cup | 1st | Battle Hero | 1 minute 10.54 seconds |
| 2nd | Magnifisio | ||
| 3rd | Lukcygray | ||
| 2015 Roma Cup | 1st | Luckygray | 1 minute 12.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Dawn Approach | ||
| 3rd | Fuchsia Bandana | ||
| 2014 Roma Cup | 1st | Magnifisio | 1 minute 11.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Elite Belle | ||
| 3rd | Checkpoint | ||
| 2013 Roma Cup | 1st | Power Princess | 1 minutes 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Ranger | ||
| 3rd | Playing God | ||
| 2012 Roma Cup | 1st | Luckygray | 1 minutes 11.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Our Ol’ Fella | ||
| 3rd | Grand Nirvana | ||
| 2011 Roma Cup | 1st | Grand Nirvana | 1 minutes 10.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Power Princess | ||
| 3rd | King Kool Kat | ||
| 2010 Roma Cup | 1st | Vain Raider | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Idyllic Prince | ||
| 3rd | Grand Nirvana | ||
| 2009 Roma Cup | 1st | Grand Nirvana | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Kens Double | ||
| 3rd | Sheenasaidgrey | ||
| 2008 Roma Cup | 1st | El Presidente | 1 minute 10.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Arctic Park | ||
| 3rd | Oroya Gold | ||
| 2007 Roma Cup | 1st | No Questions | 1 minute 10.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Star Laser | ||
| 3rd | Scuffs | ||
| 2006 Roma Cup | 1st | Is Amazing | 1 minute 09.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Electic | ||
| 3rd | River Mist | ||
| 2005 Roma Cup | 1st | Avenida | 1 minute 12.9 seconds |
| 2nd | River Mist | ||
| 3rd | Ambers Halo | ||
| 2004 Roma Cup | 1st | Modem | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Cento | ||
| 3rd | Golden Delicious | ||
| 2003 Roma Cup | 1st | Tribula | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Suspicion | ||
| 3rd | Dark ‘n’ Dangerous | ||
| 2002 Roma Cup | 1st | Kaprats | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Corporate Bruce | ||
| 3rd | Cool Business | ||
| 2001 Roma Cup | 1st | Secret Remedy | 1 minute 11.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Prince Of Pop | ||
| 3rd | Country Blazer | ||
| 2000 Roma Cup | 1st | Star System | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Double Blue | ||
| 3rd | Corporate James | ||
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